Characters
The short story “England versus England”” by Doris Lessing features quite a lot of characters: Charlie, Mr and Mrs Thornton, Lennie, miners, Mike, Charlie’s girlfriends, the doctor, the young woman on the train, the old working-class couple on the train. Some of these characters, such as Jenny and Sally, the two girlfriends, are absent from the actual action, and only appear in Charlie’s memories. Others, like the miners, are only relevant for the social setting. Out of all the characters, we consider Charlie, his parents, his brother and Mike to have the most complex characterisations.
Charlie Thornton
Charlie is the main character in the short story and is depicted both directly and indirectly by the third-person narrator.
Outer characterisation
His outer characterisation reveals that he is the son of a miner from a village, that he studies at Oxford (p. 74, ll. 25-30) and that he is twenty-two years old (p. 77, l. 39). Also, he is dating two girls, Jenny, the daughter of a clergyman (p. 77, l. 31)...
...
Inner characterisation
Charlie’s inner characterisation is rather complex, as the story does not only follow his actions and external attitude, but also his thoughts, memories, and inner conflicts.
The main trait of Charlie is the inner conflict caused by the outer class division within English society. Coming from a working-class family, Charlie despises the middle class, which is mostly reflected in his attitude towards the two middle-class girls, Sally and the girl from the train:
Every act of sex with Sally was a slow, cold subjugation of her by him. That night he had said, when she lay at last, submissive, beneath him: 'Horny-handed son of toil wins by his unquenched virility beautiful daughter of the moneyed classes. (p. 83, ll. 30-34)
It's not your fault, poor bitch, victim of the class-system, she can't help she sees everyone under her like dirt… (p. 85, ll. 31-32)
...
Mr and Mrs Thornton
Mr and Mrs Thornton are Charlie’s parents and they are depicted mostly from Charlie’s and his brother’s point of view.
...
Inner characterisation
In terms of inner characterisation, both parents come across as self-sacrificing. Mr Thornton has sacrificed his time and energy for helping the community and sending Charlie to Oxford: “Ever since Charlie could remember, Mr Thornton had been less his father than the father of the village.” (p. 74, ll. 13-14);
...
Lennie Thornton
Lennie is Charlie’s younger brother, who accompanies the protagonist to the train station.
Outer characterisation
His outer characterisation presents him as physically different from Charlie:
...
Mike
Mike is an episodic character in the short story and is mostly relevant for the ideas he puts forth, symbolising the voice of realism/pragmatism in the short story.
...
Inner characterisation
His inner characterisation reveals that he is an outspoken person, saying whatever is on his mind:
...
